Integrated Cross-Sectorial Plan of Tirana-Durres Area

• increasing revenues from agriculture, thanks
to the reduction of production costs (using
instruments such as the economy of scale) and
improvement of the irrigation network;
• encouraging large-scale effective projects,
with direct impact on the territory and
agriculture, based on the growth of the
regional food chain.
RP2- Consolidation of rural centres
Regeneration and densification, are the basic
conditions for the consolidation of urban and
rural centres. Regeneration of rural centres
should be developed according to a chronology
where investment maximizes the benefits for
local communities.
First, it is suggested to regenerate those
centres of local administrative units, which
have cultural-historical heritage and
landscape values given that the return on
investment will be faster, due to the high
number of services provided to the residents
and tourists. The community and business
should become part of the development fund in
the regeneration areas, through public-private
partnership schemes.
The densification of centres should be based
on the further development of the regenerated
poles, as well as on the reuse of unused
territorial values such as: second homes,
depreciated objects, unfinished buildings etc.
Densification should prevent the development
of linear urban centres along the road axes.
Housing and rural development strategies and
policies should be tailored in accordance to
the specific spatial requirements. A particular
focus should be given to responding to high
development demand in specific areas, mainly
along the coast, based on:
• The strategy on consolidation and
management of agricultural land;
• The consolidation of urban-rural centres;
• The creation of restrictive lines of urban
development, based on the law on the planning
and development of the territory, not allowing
the expansion of the ecological footprint of
urban and rural centres.
In this context it is important to make a
differentiation between the development of
urban housing and rural housing, based on 3
territorial spatial typologies:
a) rural areas under strong urban influence,
peri-urban areas;
b) rural areas under agro-rural influence,
agricultural areas;
c) marginal rural areas, agricultural-natural.
RP2.1- Rural services and community
development
Meeting the demand for services of the
rural communities is an obligation to
ensure the longevity and well-being of rural
communities. To ensure the continuation of
rural communities in a sustainable manner the
following should be taken into consideration by
the municipalities:
• Improving services in the residential areas,
such as: the post office and online services,
banking system, police station, community
centres, child care centres, education centres,
religious spaces, urban parks, sports areas,
all accessible within distances no longer than
20-30 minutes walking distance.
• Covering the demand for drinking water and
efficient energy grid in the urban and rural
centres. Providing treatment of solid waste,
in regional schemes, as well as more efficient
approaches in waste recycling schemes (RRR).
• Support structures and services for
marginalized groups, the elderly, people with
disabilities and those with special needs.
• Efficient public transport and links to
settlements of the highest hierarchy, both rural
and urban.
RP3- Rural economic development and
regional agricultural poles
Agriculture has traditionally been a pillar
of the rural economy. This sector should be
encouraged to operate under a closed cycle
by empowering poles, areas, corridors and
agricultural networks in conjuction with the
development of human capital.
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